In June 2008, The School of Management, Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), initiated the annual Philip J. Rutledge Scholarship. The award goes to a MPA student (who exhibits both scholarship and leadership in the field of Public Administration).

The late Phil Rutledge was an icon in Public Administration. Former (and first African American) ASPA President, Phil spent 32 years in academia as a professor and administrator. He was Professor-Emeritus of Political Science and Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University; Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Administration at Howard University’s School of Business and Public Administration. Phil also was a Presidential appointee and senior executive in the U.S. government under Presidents Johnson and Nixon.

There are three MCNY Rutledge recipients since its inception. Ms. Linda Barnes, was the initial recipient of the Rutledge Scholarship. Mr. Michael Massiah, Director, Management and Budget Department, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (former member ASPA National Council and Committee on Minorities in Public Administration/COMPA, Past President) present the Rutledge award (a 2 credit stipend) at MCNY’2008l Pi Alpha Alpha ceremony. MCNY President Vinton Thompson agreed to issue the “annual credit waiver” in honor of the late Philip NJ. Rutledge. The 2009 recipient was Ms. Shirley Bryant and the 2010 recipient was Ms. Heidi Ledgister.

Ms. Barnes is Executive Director NYC Managerial Employees Association. Ms. Bryant is an Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at the College of New Rochelle. Ms. Ledgister is a staff specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Individual Giving in the Office of Development and is Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Metropolitan College of New York.

Michael Massiah said, “I was honored to be asked by MCNY to present their Rutledge Scholarship to such deserving students and to witness their pride for being acknowledged with an award named in tribute to Phil Rutledge. One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony were the comments of the recipients after receiving their awards. Each of the honorees indicated how much they were inspired by Phil’s numerous accomplishments and motivated to be the best public servants possible because of Phil’s commitment to helping to improve the quality of life for all both here and abroad.”

Disaster Central is also a resource for information relating to MCNY’s MPA program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security, as well as providing insight and commentary on the topics of Disaster Management, Emergency Management and Homeland Security.